Korean Yogi : The next question ... what is the most
important value in life. If you can say
there is the most important value in life, what will it be?

Sayadaw : The
most precious and valuable thing in life for me is samma ditthi (Right
View), which includes the right knowledge and the right understanding.

As long as you have
right understanding in mind, you can be able to carry out all your actions and
endeavours correctly, precisely and accurately.
You will also be able to talk and utter constructive, accurate, precise,
beneficial and right things.

The most important off
all is the right knowledge. As long as
you have right knowledge in mind at all times, all your actions and endeavours
will become right and constructive, your speech (words) will become accurate,
effective and valuable.

Therefore, in order to
attain and develop priceless and right knowledge in your mind, it is necessary
for you to carry out constructive, worthwhile and good deeds diligently,
continuously and to your utmost best without distinguishing (differentiating)
whether they are for your own goods or other, for your own benefits or for
others, whether they are your responsibilities or others, your problems or
others, etc.

There is an urgent and
immediate need to address to this crucial issue. As such, ThaBarWa Centre is established
principally to solve and address to this ... the most crucial and the most important
problem and issue of us and our everyday life.

As for ThaBarWa Centre,
we are fulfilling themost crucial
needs continually, persistently, dedicatedly, one by one, fulfilling the
requirements of the multitude and the world round-the-clock without attachment
and craving such as: oh it is the world, oh it is the worldly people, oh it is
for self benefit, oh it is for general benefit, oh it is for the lokadhammagood
and bad.

At ThaBarWa Centre, we
also train the yogis to enhance the power for renunciation, the power for
sacrifice, the power for true understanding, and the power for performing good
deeds (kusala).

At the same time, we are
also trying our utmost best in spreading and instigating right knowledge and
understanding in the mind of the majority people.

Korean Yogi : This is the last question. What is the biggest problem of ThaBarWa
Centre these days and if possible, what kind of support from our side is the
most needed in this centre?

Sayadaw : If
you are talking about problems, depending on the time and circumstances, we no
choice but to face and solve them, stage by stage, step by step, along the way.

As for ThaBarWa Centre,
during the initial phase, we faced and overcome countless of difficulties,
problems and obstacles for our long-term sustainability and resiliency. We also faced and solved insufficient and
shortage of food and nutrition. We had
somehow solved and overcame the shortage of labour and volunteers to do chores
and to look after the yogis, the olds and the infirm. The labour shortage is somehow improved
compare to the past and it is no longer a big issue and problem for us
now.

Currently we are
facing and confronting with the biggest problem and headache off all, even
compare to the past problems, difficulties and issues ... the insufficient and
shortage of accommodation ... the buildings and the hostels to accommodate the
ever growing numbers of yogis, the olds and the infirm.

In the past, no so
many people knew and interested in our ThaBarWa Centre. People are not so willing to practice Insight
Meditation and thus they did not know how to turn to dhamma and meditation to
solve their problems. Thus, the
accommodation had never been a problem to us in the past.

In contrast,
present day people have more interests and are more willing to depend on and
turn to dhamma and meditation to solve their problems and also more willing to
do good deeds. Due to this growing
interests, the shortage of accommodation has been our biggest headache and
problem now.

In order to solve
this problem, I have been fulfilling and doing good deeds (cause) which
includes continuously solving the living and accommodation difficulties of
people. Hence, I believe that, our
current biggest problem, shortage of accommodation will eventually be eased off
and solved as time goes by.

In life there is such
thing called 'problem'. In the same way,
there is a root cause which generates (creates) the problem and on the other
hand, there is also an options to solve the problem. If you do not do the good cause which can
help you solve the problem, the problem will always be remained as a problem.

As for me, I have
the good understanding of the root cause of the problem. At the same time, I also know the ways and
options to solve and overcome all sorts of problems and difficulties. I am fulfilling my obligations according to
my understanding.

Like the other
problems and difficulties which I had solved and overcome in the past, the
current biggest problem, shortage of accommodation, insufficient supply of
buildings and hostels (due to the ever increasing and growing number of people
seeking refuge at ThaBarWa against the very limited fund and resources to build
those buildings and hostels) will eventually be solved and eased off as time
goes by.

If I have not been
doing any good cause and fulfilling my obligations, the people and organisation
who are helping and assisting me will not be able to solve the problems
efficiently and effectively.

On the other hand,
if the individuals and organisations from far and near who are interested in to
do good deeds combine their efforts and resources with our merits gained from
doing limitless good deeds, no matter how big and how difficult the problems
and difficulties are, they will eventually be solved.

Last but not
least, the biggest problem still remained to be solved is 'the problem of not
understanding dhamma'. Like any other
problems which I had mentioned before, once you understand the law of cause and
effect, the perceived biggest and the most difficult problem of not
understanding dhamma and doing unlimited good deeds will eventually be solved.

In order to help
other understand dhamma and doing unlimited good deeds, no matter how busy I
am, I always make my best effort and explaining and teaching dhamma to the
yogis and disciples.

Likewise, if all
the yogis and disciples put their best effort in understanding dhamma and also
doing good deeds, in future, there will no longer be any problems which cannot
be solved. In this way, all the problems
and issues will eventually be solved as time goes by.

The end.

Credits

Video and interview by ... Korean
Yogi

Translated by ... ThaBarWa
Centre's Translation Team

Edited by ... Soe Win Htut

Note : This translation work has neither been read
nor edited by the speakers. Any mistakes
and mistranslations in this project are solely the oversight and incompetency
of the translator. Our sincere apologies
for any inconvenience caused.

Daily activities to participate ….

ThaBarWa Centre or ThaBarWa Yeiktha is an ideal place for learning and practicing meditation as well as for helping others who have physical and mental limitations and difficulties.

Our center takes care of everybody, regardless of age, race and religion, who cannot support themselves and survive on their own due to various reasons and at the same time teaching them how to meditate and purify their mind.

The population of our centre is more than 2,500. By staying at our centre, you will have plenty of chances to experience and participate in the following activities …

1. Following the monks in their daily alms rounds and helping in distributing the alms food to infirm, old folks and meditators.

2. Taking care of and assisting infirm or old folks with their chores.

3. Visiting branches of ThaBarWa Centres (across Myanmar).

4. Learning Burmese culture and the people.

5. Attending insight meditation session and classes.

6. Helping in the kitchen, cooking and distributing food.

7. Helping in the health care, in the clinics and wards.

8. Helping in the library.

9. Assisting Venerable with management, IT and technology.

10. Visiting the mercy villages which were established (by ThaBarWa) for homeless and needy families and individuals.

11. Sharing your language, IT and technology knowledge and expertise with adults and Children of our centre.

Sayadaw Ashin Ottamasara

Please click the photo to visit Sayadaw's facebook

Biography

Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara was born in Katha, Sagaing Division, Myanmar on Sunday 26th October 1969.

Since his youth he placed full value on education. He passed Matriculation in 1986 with flying colors. After completing a B.A (English, Honors) from the University of Yangon in 1992, he became a young entrepreneur and successful businessman within a short period of time.

Faced with difficulties and frustrations in running a complex business for 7 years, he sought refuge in the Dhamma in 1999. With the help of a Dhamma friend, he entered the Mogok Meditation Centre at Insein Monastery for a five-day meditation retreat, becoming initiated in Dhamma contemplation and practice.

From February 1999 to January 2002 he deeply concentrated on meditation. He became so devoted to Dhamma that he was able to reduce his business calmly, without much attachment.

For the propagation of Dhamma he donated all the assets he had accumulated during 6 years of entrepreneurship. He then concentrated on charity, morality and insight contemplation to find the perfect Truth.

In 2002, he was ordained in Yangon by Sayadaw U Nayyasagara and started to teach Vipassana Insight Meditation.

Today, Sayadaw teaches Dhamma and Guided Vipassana Insight Meditation in various institutions, schools, hospitals and individual residences in Myanmar and other countries.

Sayadaw remains a well-known name throughout the shores of Myanmar and beyond.

Thabarwa is a place for everyone!!

Thabarwa Center is a non-profit humanitarian organization working for a noble cause.

We provide a home sweet home for everybody (both for locals and foreigners alike), unconditionally.

We open 24 hours a day, seven days a week without recess.

The activities of Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara and Thabarwa Center are wide and various, serving the spiritual and physical needs of thousands from far and near.

More and more visitors from all over Myanmar and abroad are coming daily to visit, learn meditation and volunteer their skills and time in caring for those taking refuge at Thabarwa Center.

Good deeds at Thabarwa

• Providing refuge not only for meditators but also for the old aged, homeless, orphans, loners, infirm and the people with physical and mental difficulties.

• Currently more than 2,500 people (as of October 2015) taking refuge at our centre.

• Providing health care, food, clothing, shelter, clean water for cooking and drinking, etc. and offering aids and support for free of charge.

• Solving day to day problems of centre residents, meditators, volunteers and visitors.

• Communicating and cooperating with volunteers, charities, non-profit organizations and philanthropists from Myanmar and abroad.

• Conducting daily Vipassana Insight Meditation and Dhamma Talks.

• Conducting retreats in the traditions of renowned vipassana meditation masters. All the meditation methods are being utilized without attachment to any particular method.